I am new member, and have spent some time reading the training advice on this site. I have a black lab called Ruby. She is two and a half years old now, and we got her as a pup. She is a beautiful, affectionate dog, but also a very difficult one. She is extremely hyper, she loves to run, and is wild about playing with other dogs. I have found valuable tips on this site, one of them is that when I let her off lead and she bolts, then start walking as fast as I can in the opposite direction. This is risky, as she will run and jump on any dog or person, especially people who are waving ball launchers about. I used to run after her, huffing and puffing, shouting and whistling, probably looking quite pathetic, being overweight and in my 70s. Now I just march off, and Ruby, not wanting to lose her source of food, follows. I expect we may not be the most popular visitors in the park, as I have noticed people changing their course or hooking up their dogs when Ruby and I appear. I do try to go to the park at times when I know there are not many people about, and hope that as Ruby matures, she will stop this wild running, and walk nicely beside me. If she only understood what she is missing. Long country walks, going to the beach and visiting different places. I look forward to my membership, maybe someone out there has a dog like Ruby. It would be nice to exchange stories. We live in Scotland.
Re: Hello Hello there, and a very warm welcome. I have a dog a LOT like Ruby. ;D ;D ;D His name is Charlie, and he's a right old hooligan. He's two and a bit now. Training Charlie not to be quite so much of a hooligan is my full time hobby. What saved us was gundog training - and a lot of it. We are absolutely hopeless and don't approach anything like a competent level, but not being a good gundog still adds up to a reasonably well behaved pet. Mostly. Ok, sometimes. ;D ;D ;D Many sympathies. Best Julie (and hooligan Charlie) ears by julieandcharlie, on Flickr Julie (and Hooligan Charlie).
Re: Hello Welcome to the forum to you and Ruby. There's n nee to feel that you're the only one with a dog that doesn't always recall as they should but there's lots of help and advice here.
Re: Hello Welcome to the forum from me and my two. I used to have a similar issue with my two when they were together (I often walk them apart) and off-lead, walking out through our external door - they would immediately bolt off. It was somewhat dangerous because they would run straight into a road - albeit one that's almost never used and I always looked both ways before opening the door to make sure it was safe, but it was not a good thing. I stopped this by giving them a VERY high value treat as soon as we walked through the door. I started off by showing it to them as we walked through the door, so they knew it was there, but almost immediately faded the lure and waited for them to look to me for it. Very, very quickly, they learned that staying by me when we walked through a door, or when I took them off lead, or got them out of the car etc was far more rewarding than running off, until I chose to release them to "go play".
Re: Hello Hi and welcome! Fighting the good fight here too, with Merla, a mad little black lab with entirely too much energy Having lots of fun in the meanwhile, and I second Julie's comments. It does get through their heads eventually....mostly ;D ;D
Re: Hello A warm welcome from me (Kate) Benson my mad 18 month chocolate boy and Casper a lovely black labrador we rehomed.
Re: Hello Welcome from me and Pongo I feel your pain. Pongo believes that the words "Pongo come here now!" mean "Pongowhydon'tyoujustrunoffanddowhateveryoulikeohthat'swhatyouaredoing". But we are getting there..... slowly!
Re: Hello Welcome from me and my boundless-energy 6 month pup Bonnie! The articles on the site and the advice on this forum are so brilliant, I'm sure you and Ruby (lovely name!) will be enjoying those country walks and gorgeous Scottish beaches before too long. 8)
Re: Hello Hi there,welcome to the Forum,I've got a little pocket rocket Labrador called Dexter,he's 2.5 now and I thought I was ready and prepared for him.......what did I know! The most exciting thing in his life is to chase something furry or feathered ,or to meet and hoolie with dogs he meets off lead on walks.....we are a lot better but he does require vigilance and management if I don't want him charging off to introduce himself :
Re: Hello Welcome to you both from Mags, Tatze (pet black lab, 2 years old) and Gypsy (Guide Dog puppy, 10 months old)
Re: Hello Hello from Belle (mongrel collie-x), Scooby (black Labrador) and me. Scooby is a gangly 8-10 yr who we adopted last October, and Belle is a fluffy 11-ish yr young love who we adopted 9 yrs ago.
Re: Hello What a couple of days we have had. Yesterday Ruby was walking nicely with us when she saw a man and two boys playing ball at the far end of the field. She bolted and started running around them wildly, trying to join in. Twice she came back and ran away again, so I put her on the lead. Today was even worse, this morning I took her for or usual walk, and the only other walkers there were a man and an elderly collie, Harry, whom we know well and she never bothers. Harry came over, I let Ruby off, gave Harry a treat from my bag, then heard a loud scream. It was Harry's owner, having been ran into by Ruby, and I think twisted his ankle. He did not say, I went to apologize and he limped off, not speaking to me. This afternoon my husband and I took her a different walk, down by a little stream. She loves splashing about, we throw sticks, and there was nobody else there. Until I called her to go back home. Then she decided to run off. She crossed the stream, which has very high rocky banks, and we saw her disappear towards a built up area and a road. My 78-year-old husband clambered across and up the opposite bank, while I ran along the other side, calling, showing her tennis balls, sticks, treats ... she saw me all right and heard, she just did not want to obey. Finally I managed to get her to cross, and got her lead on. We were both completely exhausted. I am really at my wits end right now. Will it have to be on-lead walks only from ow on? She is very strong, and pulls my arms off.
Re: Hello So sorry to hear you've been having a difficult time. It's so exasperating, isn't it, when the dog you love seems to go deaf and blind and behave in the most embarrassing way ? :-[ It sounds like the Total Recall programme would really help you (this is Pippa's book, written with dogs like Ruby in mind!). It's not a 'quick fix' and it does take time and commitment but it really does work In the meanwhile, you might have to think about when you can let Ruby off the lead and when it would be better to keep her on. Will she recall between you and your husband if you both have great treats? If so, this can be a useful way to get a dog to burn off some energy, whilst always having them heading with purpose towards an owner - stand 50 yards or so apart and keep her shuttling between you Also, maybe consider whether a head-collar or harness would help with her pulling so you can feel happier about her walking on the lead with you.
